Wellness With Anna | My Journey To Health, Fitness, And Happiness
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Yoga Everywhere
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Yoga Everywhere
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

7/16/2019 0 Comments

Stephanie's Summer Hors D'Oeuvres

Picture
While hosting me this summer, my dear friend Stephanie cooked up this this tasty snack for us to munch on. This delicious treat is perfect for summer time. It is gluten free, low on carbs, high in protein,  and most importantly - super easy to make!
Picture

​​
Stephanie says: 
"They're perfect for a pool party, backyard cocktail party, and any other summer event where people will be hot, wearing little clothing and don't want to be bloated, but you still want to serve a hearty savory appetizer."

​For this recipe Stephanie used 1 large zucchini grown from my own garden, which was cut into 1 inch thick slices, Russian pork kielbasa, also cut into 3/4 inch thick slices, 1 inch thick cubes of Colby Jack and cheddar cheeses, pineapple chunks, and slices of sweet pepper. 

The ingredients were assembled on hors d'oeuvres servers (toothpicks), with the zucchini at the base of the appetizer and the cheese practically stuffed into the pepper to contain it as it melts, as well as on top. They were then baked at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes min or until the cheese melted and the pineapple chunks began to darken at the edges.

You may vary the recipe by using different meats, such as chicken, bacon, beef sausages and/or turkey sausage.
You may also do a vegetarian version using mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, and whatever other vegetables you may find in the fridge.

I hope you enjoy this yummy summer snack, and the rest of your summer!
Love, Anna. 
0 Comments

12/15/2018 0 Comments

Avocado Salad "Bowl" Recipe

Picture
I was invited to do a fruit cleanse this week right before Xmas. I felt I strongly needed one but was a bit skeptical about eating mostly fruit during the winter. I love fruits and feel they offer amazing value to my body. In the winter hoever, I feel my body needs abit more support and I tend to gravitate toward more hardy foods.

Then, I got an amazing suggestion from my dear friend Kimberly Simms, the founder of the The Naked Yoga Experience about using savory fruits like avocados, tomatoes and bell peppers. What a great idea! 
Avocados are super hearty and very filling. They are high in healthy Omega fats that provide support for the brain, skin, muscles and lubricate the joints during these cold months when your body may be more stiff and need. I like to think of using avocados as if I am oiling my body machine.

​They are also high in antioxidants, protein and offer great energy for the holidays.
​This recipe is super simple, highly nutritious and can serve as a great appetizer if you're hosting a brunch or dinner party.

Picture
Cut one avocado in half and take out the pit.
Cut a piece of tomato, bell pepper, lettuce, and onion into tiny cubes.​
You may use any veggies of your choice, these are the ones I had on hand.

Picture
Cut the avocado into cubes without taking off the skin.
This step is optional and simply makes it easier and less messy to scoop the meal with a spoon.
Picture
Mix the veggie cubes together.
Add a little olive oil.
Add a little seasoning. I used kelp flakes and a little sea salt.
​Place in the middle of the avocado, using the avocado as the "Bowl".
Add some more seasonings of your choice and ENJOY!

​
0 Comments

6/3/2018 2 Comments

Blueberries For Brain Function

We all already know that blueberries are very good for you! They are full of antioxidants, fiber, essential vitamins and nutrients, and they taste delicious!

What I did NOT know is that blueberries may also improve brain activity! As if I needed any more reasons to love them! Well a few studies were done to show just that!

One double-blind study from the University of Exeter in England tested 26 healthy subjects ranging between the ages of 65 and 77. For 12 weeks, 12 of the subjects drank 30 mL of concentrated blueberry juice once a day, while the other 14 drank a placebo. [1]​

Before and after the experiment, all subjects were given a series of cognitive tests while their brain activity was monitored by an MRI.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Results demonstrated that, those who drank the concentrated blueberry juice has a serious rise in their brain function, while those who did not consume the berry, did not. [1]

A study from Duke University, ran a similar experiment and tested 37 subjects which came out with very similar results. [2]

As well as being great for the older population, blueberries were shown to increase brain function in children ages 7-10, who were given 15-30g freeze dried blueberry concentrate and asked to perform numerous cognitive tests. [3] 

According to Dr. Joanna Bowtell from Exeter University “Our cognitive function tends to decline as we get older, but previous research has shown that cognitive function is better preserved in healthy older adults with a diet rich in plant-based foods. [4] 

This is believed to be due to the high content of flavonoids of fruit, which are pigments, or the thing that gives the fruit its dark blue, red, or purple color. [1] [4] [5] 

Blueberries contain a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin, which is recognized for its “free-radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities”. It has also been shown to protect DNA from cleavage, boost immune responses by promoting the production of cytokines , strengthen the capillaries, and have strong anti-inflammatory properties. [5] 

PHEW! If that wasn’t a mouthful! 

Blueberries can be very easily incorporated into the diet. They can be eaten as is, drank as a juice in more concentrated form, and taken as a powder or a capsule. 

I am very excited to have found these studies, since I already love blueberries so much and have a few recipe ideas that I will be trying and sharing with you this summer, starting with my mixed berry acai smoothie bowl.
2 Comments

5/7/2018 1 Comment

Acai Bowl recipe

Picture
For this acai smoothie bowl, I used:
​- 1 frozen banana
​- 1/2 frozen acai pack. I used the Sambazon frozen packs.
- 1 tea spoon acai powder (optional). I used the Navita's Organics brand for this ingredient.
​- 1/2 cup blueberries.
- 2 large strawberries.
- 1 table spoon maple syrup.
- 1/3 cup coconut water.
*You want to add the coconut water slowly to make sure you get a thick, ice cream like consistency.
Blend the ingredients together.
Serve in a bowl topped with oats, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, blueberries, and strawberries. You may add coconut flakes, more maple syrup, and other toppings you enjoy.
1 Comment

3/16/2018 0 Comments

3 Simple carrot juice recipes

I absolutely love carrots and the health benefits they reap! They are super high in beta carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A in your liver, as well as zeaxanthin and lutein which are great for the health of your eyes. The antioxidant properties of carrots provide support for the immune system, skin, and protect against cancer causing free radicals.

Unfortunately for me, I have a slight tooth sensitivity and can't always indulge in this delicious crunchy snack. Then recently my friend suggested I juice the carrots to get the same benefits. Juicing! Duh! Genius! 

I have been juicing carrots for a whole month now and I feel fantastic! My skin looks glossy and my eyes feel a lot less tired.

H
ere are the 3 juices I have made most often during this carrot juicing journey. I highly suggest you try them and let me know how you feel! ​

recipe # 1. the on hand.

This recipe is the most popular in juice bars. It's the most simple and contains items people tend to have on hand.

You will need: 
2-3 carrots
1 apple
a few stalks of celery


The apples add a sweeter flavor to the juice in case the carrots you got are a little bitter and are also high in fiber and vitamins C. According to medical news today, apples also help reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The celery may be substituted for anything else you may have on hand, like cucumbers, sweet peppers, or more carrots and apples.​
Picture
Picture

Recipe # 2. The super easy.

All you need for this one is 3-4 carrots and one half of a large lemon. 

Lemons are great for weight-loss, contain a lot of vitamin C and taste absolutely delicious.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Recipe # 3. A little Beet of Russia.

This one is my absolute favorite! It is also the sweetest. It tastes so good my 5 year old steals it from me!

All you need for this one is:
3-4 carrots
1/4 of a beet
a slice of lemon
1 apple  


​Beets are an amazing addition to the cold times of the year as they thicken your blood and help keep you a little warmer. They are also high in folate and B vitamins. ​
Picture
Picture
I have been having a lot of fun trying different additions with carrots as the main ingredient, and really seeing an improvement in my overall health.

Let's just hope I don't turn orange!

I hope you try these recipes and absolutely love them!  I would love to hear which of the 3 you liked best.

See you soon!​
0 Comments

2/6/2018 0 Comments

"Worst Vegetarian Ever!"

Back in 2005, when I was studying health counseling, we were exposed to almost every kind of dietary theory and practice there was. The whole premise of the school I went to was to listen to your body; your body will always communicate with you and tell you what it needs and what is missing. So imagine my surprise when I woke up one day, after 10 years of having a strict vegetarian diet, with the most powerful craving for beef I've ever felt in my life! (And I have been pregnant!!!)
​

Whenever I told people that I was a vegetarian for 10 years, they’ve always acted so impressed! But being vegetarian, at that time, was very easy for me. I felt great, I was super fit, I had already had a nutritional background - so I knew how to avoid missing my nutrients, and I worked in a health food store so I had access to, and an employee discount for all this gorgeous, organic, ethically produced food. My environment made it super easy and affordable to live this lifestyle.

Then one day, about two and a half years ago, I woke up with the most sudden, super powerful craving for beef! I thought… OK, something must be missing in my body. What can it be? I tried various types of protein powders and amino acid complexes. I even explored a little CLA (supposedly cow meat contains a lot of this). Nothing worked! My body was just craving some serious red meat. It was so strange because I didn’t crave just meat in general. I didn’t want chicken or any sort of poultry and the smell of pork was not appetizing to me - I was one of those rare people who strongly disliked bacon. But my body was talking to me and I had to listen. I could not ignore the main message I took away from my nutrition training.
​

I finally gave in on one of my very first dates with my partner. I looked at the waiter and for the first time in over 10 years I spoke the words “Steak and eggs please. Medium rare.”
My partner was so confused! He was still just trying to get to know me and said “What? You’re the worst vegetarian ever!” 
He still teases me about it now.

That first steak was unbelievable! There is really nothing like having your cravings met. It was exactly what my body was asking for. I thought OK, maybe now I’ll finally have what I’ve been missing. HA! Those cravings did not go away for an entire 2 years! For the first few months I ate beef every single day! Steak tips for breakfast, burgers for lunch, sirloin for dinner, and beef jerky for snacks! It was ridiculous! I was going against many of my dietary principles. I was very emotionally torn while being very physically driven. Honestly, I’m still not sure why this happened since I do not observe an extreme difference in the way I feel. If anything, I feel I was much stronger before while eating a plant and dairy based diet.

However, I do know that I am finally getting my fill! I am no longer like an addict, itching for my next serving of cow and I have been feeling the desire to once again explore plant based dinners and vegetarian recipes.

While I do still strongly believe plant based diets to be much cleaner and plant proteins to be highly superior to those which come from meat, I will continue to listen to my body through this transition and hope that my cravings for cows continue to grow weaker - until they fully disappear.

I would love to hear about some unusual, or super powerful cravings you’ve had and how you went about satisfying them.

Written by: Anna Alexandra Lerer
Edited by: Nadia Aboawad
0 Comments

10/27/2017 0 Comments

Savory Oats Recipe

Picture
I have been OBSESSED with this savory oats Recipe! And just oats in general. Oats are so good for you skin! Full of fiber and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are so easy to make and so easy to digest, so they're great if you're experiencing discomfort in your gut.

For this meal I used:
1 serving of old fashioned oats
1egg
​1 handful of arugula
​3 home grown radishes
Chives
Parsley
Salt
​Garlic powder

​You can substitute the arugula for any greens you like, as well as the spices for your own favorites.

​Cook the oats following the instructions on the packaging. Different types of oats have different cooking times. Add some salt and garlic powder. While the oats cook, fry 1 egg sunny side up and rinse out some greens. When the oats are ready, garnish them with chives, parsley (or any savory herbs of your choice). Add the radishes and top with the sunny side egg. Serve with a side of your favorite greens. Enjoy <3



0 Comments

7/31/2017 0 Comments

Spinach Kiwi Smoothie

Picture
With summer here, it is the best time to really begin focusing on the health of your skin. We all know the skin to be the biggest organ of the body and therefore it requires a lot of care! The great part about this fabulous organ is that it is a strong indicator of what is going on inside our bodies. Whatever is happening on the inside, will eventually show up on the outside. This means that anything which is real good for your skin, is therefore real good for your entire body! And visa versa.

Well this summer I desire to have the healthiest, most vibrant skin I have ever had in my life! Are you with me? Let's get glowing!

The SUPERFOOD focus of this week is the KIWI!


Now, kiwi has always been one of my all time favorite foods. Something about its fuzzy exterior and juicy insides. Even the little crunchy seeds have always been pleasurable for me. Turns out, not only is this fruit super fun to eat, it is also EXTREMELY healthy for your skin!   

To begin with, Kiwi is PACKED with more Vitamin C than oranges, strawberries, and most of your popular antioxidant fruits. Vitamin c is essential is the production of Collagen, which makes your skin strong and firm. Kiwis are also high in antioxidant Vitamin E, Vitamin K which is needed for strong bones, potassium, fiber, and many more necessary nutrients.

This fruit is so easy to eat! Just cut in half and scoop out with a spoon for breakfast! I, of course, chose to be fancy and make a green smoothie.  This drink is super simple and super healthy for your body.

All you need is:
2 Kiwis
1 Banana
1 Handful of spinach (I like a lot of greens!)
2-3 Ice cubes
1 Cup of liquid of your choice.
For this smoothie I used Soy Milk, but you can also use Almond milk, Rice milk, Apple juice, Coconut water and so on.
Blend for about 15 seconds.

Et Voilà!

Sip on a hot summer day and enjoy the gorgeous glowing skin that follows.

0 Comments

    Author

    Anna Alexandra Lerer.

    Archives

    July 2019
    December 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    July 2017

    Categories

    All Nutrition Recipes

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.